May 30, 2013 (NOT-OD-13-074) -
NIH to Require Use of Updated Electronic Application Forms for Due Dates on or after September 25, 2013. Forms-C applications are required for due dates on or after September 25, 2013.

This FOA encourages applications for research projects
that identify and/or validate chromosomal loci and variations in genes that
are associated with vulnerability to addiction and that inform the likelihood
of responsiveness to treatment. Applications that propose to examine
intermediate phenotypes or endophenotypes to assess the molecular genetics of
drug addiction, addiction vulnerability and/or their associated
co-morbidities and how they are related to drug addiction are especially
encouraged. Also encouraged are genetic as well as computational and
large-scale genomic approaches, which may include but are not limited to
linkage, linkage disequilibrium, case-control or family-based studies, and
integration of data from other databases that may supplement substance abuse
genetics and genomics data. Data may be collected from the general
population, special populations, recent admixed populations, and/or animal
models. Investigators are encouraged to include, as a component of their
project and as appropriate, gene x gene interactions, gene x environment
interactions, gene x environment x development interactions,
pharmacogenetics, and non-human models.

Key Dates

Posted Date

November 9, 2010

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

January 5, 2011

Letter of Intent Due Date

Not Applicable

Application Due Date(s)

Standard
dates apply or Month Day, Year, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant
organization.

AIDS Application Due Date(s)

Standard
dates apply or Month Day, Year, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant
organization.

(Now Expired December 10, 2013 per issuance of PA-14-025), Originally January 8, 2014

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in
the SF
424 (R&R) Application Guide except where instructed to do otherwise (in
this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts).
Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA)
is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all
application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any
program-specific instructions noted in Section
IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the
Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that
do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

The state of the science on genetics of addiction for a
given drug may be quite different. For example, the literature is robust with
genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on nicotine dependence, but replicated
genetic findings are limited for certain other drugs of abuse. Similarly, there
is interest in chromosomal loci and/or genetic variation and haplotypes that
are associated with differences in responses to treatment for addiction to
these drugs of abuse and related disorders. Applicants are encouraged to
analyze and explicitly state how their research project leverages data from
past studies and how the study will advance the scientific knowledgebase. It
is highly recommended that applicants contact NIDA program staff during the
early planning stages of project development to gauge interest in the genetics
of the particular phenotype proposed, as well as the genetic approach being
taken.

Recent advances in statistical genetics, molecular biology,
and genomic approaches have greatly accelerated the ability to identify the
etiology of diseases that have a genetic basis. Animal models provide an
alternative way for understanding the underlying biology of these complex
diseases. In addition, many databases (e.g., 1000 Genomes, HapMap, dbGaP) are
available to supplement existing studies, and/or mine directly. These and
related approaches are likely to have applicability to the brain diseases of
addiction. Thus, molecular and computational characterization of all types of
genetic variation identified through genetic studies is also encouraged.

Identifying specific genes and gene variants that mediate
addiction or other complex, multi-genic diseases is complicated by the fact
that analytical methods developed for single-gene disorders do not necessarily
incorporate the effects of gene interactions. Investigators are encouraged to
consider using innovative genetic models, pedigree structure, haplotypes, and
other methods of statistical analyses for the identification of genetic
variations conferring vulnerability to complex genetic disorders such as drug
addictions with or without co-morbid mental disorders, and response to
pharmacotherapies for these disorders.

Phenotype definition of both case and control (both exposed
and unexposed) individuals is a central issue in the analysis of complex traits
such as addiction and is an essential component to applications responding to
this FOA. Investigators are encouraged to use existing instruments that have
been used by the NIDA Genetics Consortium, http://nidagenetics.org/ and browse through the study information links to access the instruments used.

In addition, NIDA has developed a series of core elements
for assessing and harmonizing demographic information and substance use history
for genetic studies. The core elements can be accessed through this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/Genetics/ngcdomains/.
NIDA strongly encourages all applicants to discuss how these core elements are
addressed in their data sharing plan by either assessing them directly or
indirectly by proxy measures.

This FOA particularly seeks applications that propose to
study intermediate or endophenotypes. For these studies, emphasis should be
placed on how these intermediate phenotypes and endophenotypes map onto the
phenotypic outcome of drug addiction (e.g. DSMIIIR or DSMIV criteria or other
validated and heritable outcome measures). Endophenotypic measures in some
cases may afford greater reliability compared to an overt addiction diagnosis.
Although genetic effect sizes associated with endophenotypes have not
necessarily been larger than those reported for other phenotypes for many
psychiatric disorders, their usefulness for identifying addiction loci remains
to be determined.

However, alternative phenotype definition may better
describe the genetic aspects of addiction. Therefore, investigators may
propose the use of other phenotypic information such as the presence or absence
of biological markers or exhibition of unique individual traits, as well as
combinations of these and/or co-morbid conditions. Justification for the use
of proposed alternative phenotypes and how it relates to the addiction
phenotype should be clearly stated and evidence for heritability provided.

Investigators including the exploration of environmental
factors should include detailed explanations of how the environments were
measured, and how they may impact outcome. Gender and ethnic specific analyses
in the molecular genetics of addiction vulnerability is encouraged.

Analyses of family studies to identify biomarkers,
endophenotypes, and sub clinical phenotypes associated with addictive disorders
with or without co-morbid conditions, and environmental factors and processes
that may moderate or mediate individual risk and protection

Research examining the pharmacogenetics of treatments used for
addiction (including pharmacotherapies and/or behavioral therapies) with or
without co-morbid mental disorders; Construction and analysis of SNP haplotypes
that predict therapeutic response or adverse reactions to drugs;

Identification of biomarkers to resolve clinical heterogeneity
and heterogeneity of therapeutic drug response; studies of genetically
determined functional changes in nuclear and cell surface receptors to explain
the adverse or paradoxical drug responses to therapeutic agents; studies of
allelic variation occurring in individual transporter genes that are associated
with a functional consequence. Studies on dose and safety and efficacy are not appropriate
for this FOA.

Research on animal models, including non-human primates, to study
the genetics of addiction vulnerability; approaches using knock-out, knock-in,
non-coding RNAs, or other novel technologies

Animal models with careful attention to phenotype definition are
needed to refine QTLs and identify genes associated with addiction

Research incorporating the evaluation of environmental exposures
or psychosocial stressors with the molecular approaches

Research involving molecular characterization, and/or functional
genomic, and/or proteomic screens of genes or gene variants identified as being
associated with addiction vulnerability, including cross-species comparisons to
evaluate the effects of a particular allele across organisms.

Studies analyzing the combined effects of gene variants from a
gene family or pathway shown to be involved in addiction and/or co-morbid
mental disorders.

Studies examining gene expression, tissue specificity, and
epigenetic mechanisms, and/or non-coding RNA approaches to better understand
the effects of a particular SNP or group of SNPs on addiction vulnerability;
especially encouraged are studies that examine these paradigms according to
developmental stage or across tissue types.

Studies examining the genetic vulnerability to HIV acquisition
and/or disease progression among drug using populations. HIV/AIDS questions
must be fully integrated into the application.

Statistical genetics and computational approaches:

Computational approaches that incorporate other data resources,
such as HapMap, 1000 Genomes, Epigenomics, dbGaP, etc are encouraged,
especially as they relate to understanding relationships among genes and
environment, genes and phenotype, and systems biology of addiction

Combining of computational and experimental approaches is
encouraged. For example:

Analyzing 1000 Genomes data for drug abuse and addiction related
pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic genes to make predictions on how particular
genetic variants may affect the activity of the genes when exposed to drugs of
abuse

Combining GWAS or sequence data with 1000 Genomes data to look
for rare and structural variants that may be more frequent in datasets with
drug addiction phenotypes

Analyzing 1000 Genomes data for genes known to be associated with
drug addiction to understand their genetic architecture in various populations
(what is the repertoire of genetic variation in the genomic regions of genes
associated with addiction phenotypes, and is it any different from genes not
associated with addiction phenotypes)

Studies that narrow the set of variants identified in an
associated region to prioritize them for functional analysis

Research on statistical analyses of large data sets examining the
genetics of addiction with or without co-morbid mental disorders, as well as
use of innovative analytical approaches such as admixture designs and Bayesian
methods; secondary data analyses are also of interest

Addiction vulnerability traits have been linked to multiple
regions of the genome and research is needed to identify specific genes and
polymorphisms within and around those genes that lie within these linkage
regions

The NIDA Genetics Consortium (NGC)

The NIDA Genetics Consortium (NGC) consists of investigators
who have modified their projects to conform to the guidelines listed in a
previous FOA to use the resources provided by the NIDA Center for Genetics
Studies. The NIDA Center for Genetics Studies is funded by a contract awarded
to Rutgers University with a subcontract to Washington University at St. Louis
for the purpose of creating databases, cryopreserved lymphocytes, and DNA
samples, and for wide distribution of the data and DNA to the scientific community.
After a proprietary period, the NIDA Center for Genetics Studies will, upon
proper application and approval, distribute both the data and DNA samples to
qualified researchers.

In addition, when preparing an application, researchers are
strongly encouraged to present a rationale that carefully balances important
substantive, methodological, and budgetary issues. In addition to contacting
program staff early in the development of a project, applicants are advised to
address each of the following points in the link provided, when appropriate: http://www.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/Genetics/humanapp/index.html.

Members of the NGC meet two times a year to discuss issues
related to the molecular genetics of addiction vulnerability. Plans for
membership in the NGC for all human genetics applications collecting blood
samples are encouraged, but not required. Due to budget limitations on the
contract, not all applicants requesting membership can be accepted into the
consortium. For further information, see http://www.nida.nih.gov/about/organization/Genetics/FAQ_NGC.html.

NIDA Genetics Consortium Budget Justification:

A NIDA contract supports the NIDA Center for Genetic Studies
and provides funds for the processing of samples and storing them in the
Repository for a variety of drug addiction research. The Repository has a
limited budget and a maximum capacity, therefore some proposals requesting NGC
membership may not be accepted into the Repository. If, for budgetary or
capacity reasons the contract cannot cover samples to be place in the
Repository, it is advised that the PD/PI plan to include the addition of their
samples into the Repository as if it were a sub-contract. If the PD/PI includes
this alternative method in the grant application, then the samples will be
covered either by the contract or the grant if it is awarded. If the NIDA
contract can cover the costs and has the capacity, then the budget allocated
for that activity in the grant application will be administratively cut. In
the grant application, appropriate language could be, "We plan to request
access to the NIDA Center for Genetic Studies for submitting our samples. If
the study and the samples are approved, the NIDA contract will provide funds
for receiving, processing, storing, and distributing the samples. If the study
and samples are not approved, we provide budgetary justification for submitting
the samples to the NIDA Repository using funds received through this grant
application."

Available Genotyping and Expression Array Resources

Investigators should note that there are sevaral existing
resources available to investigators for genotyping and expression array
studies. One is the Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR), which is
supported by a contract to Johns Hopkins University by eight NIH institutes
including NIDA. CIDR was established in 1996 to provide high-throughput
genotyping and statistical services for complex genetic diseases to the
scientific community at large. Introductory no cost access to CIDR resources
is available to investigators who have been approved by the CIDR Access
Committee (CAC) and who are supported by one of the eight supporting NIH
institutes (including NIDA). Thus, projects supported by this FOA are eligible
for no cost access to CIDR resources following CAC approval.

Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations
as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply
for or receive an award. Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following
registrations.

All Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) must
also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons
or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons
account of the applicant organization.

All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant
organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at
least four (4) weeks prior to the application due date.

Eligible Individuals (Project Director/Principal Investigator)

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources
necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Project Director/Principal
Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an
application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic
groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply
for NIH support.

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application,
provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA
that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review
unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. NIH will not accept any
application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. Resubmission applications may be submitted, according to the NIH Policy on Resubmission
Applications from the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application
package associated with this funding opportunity using the “Apply for Grant
Electronically” button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.

2. Content and
Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in
the SF424
(R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding
opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in
the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are
out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for
review.

Required and Optional Components

The forms package associated with this FOA includes all
applicable components, mandatory and optional. Please note that some
components marked optional in the application package are required for
application submission. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R)
Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate “optional” components.

Page Limitations

All page limitations described in the SF424 Application
Guide and the Table of
Page Limits must be followed,

PHS 398 Research Plan Component

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide
must be followed.

Resource Sharing Plan

Individuals are required to comply with the
instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model
Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) as provided in the SF424
(R&R) Application Guide.

Appendix

Do not use the appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow
all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R)
Application Guide.

Foreign Organizations

Foreign (non-US) organizations must follow policies
described in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign organizations described
throughout the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

3. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit in
advance of the deadline to ensure they have time to make any application
corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

Organizations must submit applications via Grants.gov, the online portal to find and apply for grants
across all Federal agencies. Applicants must then complete the submission process
by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants
administration.

Applicants
are responsible for viewing their application in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate
and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of
on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission
process, visit Applying
Electronically.

Important
reminders:All PD/PIs must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential
fieldof the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF 424(R&R) Application
Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI
Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an
electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the
application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA
Commons and for the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Additional
information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for
completeness by the Center for Scientific Review , NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.

Requests of $500,000 or more for direct costs in any year

Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in
any year (excluding consortium F&A) must contact NIH program staff at least 6 weeks before
submitting the application and follow the Policy on the Acceptance for Review
of Unsolicited Applications that Request $500,000 or More in Direct Costs as
described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Post Submission Materials

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for
post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115.

Section
V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered
in the review process. As part of the NIH mission,
all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral
research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer
review system.

Overall Impact

Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to
reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a
sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in
consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria
(as applicable for the project proposed).

Scored Review Criteria

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in
the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An
application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to
have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not
innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Significance

Does the project address an important problem or a
critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are
achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical
practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the
concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative
interventions that drive this field?

Investigator(s)

Are the PD/PIs, collaborators, and other researchers
well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators,
or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate
experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing
record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is
collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and
integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and
organizational structure appropriate for the project?

Innovation

Does the application challenge and seek to shift
current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical
concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are
the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions
novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement,
improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or
methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?

Approach

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned
and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential
problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the
project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish
feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed?

If the project involves clinical research, are the plans for 1) protection of
human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion of minorities and members
of both sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms
of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?

Environment

Will the scientific environment in which the work
will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional
support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators
adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique
features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative
arrangements?

Additional Review Criteria

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will
evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and
technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will
not give separate scores for these items.

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does
not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR
Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human
subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their
participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to
subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the
subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data
and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or
more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46,
the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human
subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For
additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to
the Human
Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

When the proposed project involves clinical research,
the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and
members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional
information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human
Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Vertebrate Animals

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live
vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the
following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains,
ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and
for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of
veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and
injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound
research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs
and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason
for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For
additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please
refer to the Worksheet
for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.

Biohazards

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures
proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the
environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

Resubmissions

For Resubmissions, the committee will evaluate the
application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to
comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the
project.

Renewals

For Renewals, the committee will consider the
progress made in the last funding period.

Revisions

For Revisions, the committee will consider the
appropriateness of the proposed expansion of the scope of the project. If the
Revision application relates to a specific line of investigation presented in
the original application that was not recommended for approval by the committee,
then the committee will consider whether the responses to comments from the
previous scientific review group are adequate and whether substantial changes are
clearly evident.

Additional Review Considerations

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will
consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items,
and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.

Applications from Foreign Organizations

Reviewers will assess whether the project presents
special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of
unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions that exist
in other countries and either are not readily available in the United States or
augment existing U.S. resources.

Select Agent Research

Reviewers will assess the information provided in
this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in
the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select
Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor
possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate
biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).

May undergo a selection process in which only those applications
deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top
half of applications under review), will be discussed and assigned an overall impact/priority
score.

Will receive a written critique.

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications
will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications . Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of
review by the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse . The following will be
considered in making funding decisions:

Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as
determined by scientific peer review.

Availability of funds.

Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

After the peer review of the application is completed, the
PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique)
via the eRA
Commons.

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH
will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as
described in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided
to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by
the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via
email to the grantee business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection
of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any
costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These
costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

A final progress report, invention
statement, and Financial Status Report are required when an award is
relinquished when a recipient changes institutions or when an award is
terminated.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of
2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants
to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation
under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of
applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to
the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants
Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity
and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under
Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92

Special Considerations

HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing Policy for the National
Institute on Drug Abuse: In light of recent significant advances in rapid
testing for HIV and in effective treatments for HIV, NIDA has revised its 2001
policy on HIV counseling and testing. NIDA-funded researchers are strongly
encouraged to provide and/or refer research subjects to HIV risk reduction
education and education about the benefits of HIV treatment, counseling and
testing, referral to treatment, and other appropriate interventions to prevent
acquisition and transmission of HIV. This policy applies to all NIDA funded
research conducted domestically or internationally. For more information see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-07-013.html.

National
Advisory Council on Drug Abuse Recommended Guidelines for the Administration of
Drugs to Human Subjects: The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (NACDA)
recognizes the importance of research involving the administration of drugs
with abuse potential, and dependence or addiction liability, to human
subjects. Potential applicants are encouraged to obtain and review these
recommendations of Council before submitting an application that will
administer compounds to human subjects. The guidelines are available on NIDA's
Web site at http://www.nida.nih.gov/about/organization/nacda/CouncilStatement.html.

Networking Website for Consultation and Collaboration

NIDA has established a web-based Networking Project (NNP) to
encourage investigators to collaborate with other scientists to gain access to
specialized expertise, unique research resources, diverse populations, or
geographic locations not otherwise available. For applicants interested in
identifying potential collaborators, the NNP website is available at
http://nnp.drugabuse.gov, as a source of information on the mission, focus, and
leadership of NIDA’s research networks. The website features an interactive
map with more than 300 local network sites, a directory of close to 400
addiction researchers and practitioners, and the extensive resources of 14
NIDA-supported research networks located across the country. If appropriate
for the proposed research, NIDA encourages grant applicants to use the
resources of the NNP and make reference in the grant application when they are
utilized.